To properly tell the story about this match, we have to go back over a decade.
At the start of 2012, Slex was the MCW World Heavyweight Champion, until he met an upcoming young wrestler named Matt Silva.
At MCW Vendetta in January 2012, Silva pinned Slex in the middle of the ring in the Thornbury Theatre to take the championship for himself. And then he followed it with a win in the rematch the next month.
Silva vs Slex looked to become the classic feud in Australian wrestling, but fate changed things as both men ventured down different paths.
For Silva, he got signed by the WWE, moving over to the US, whereas Buddy Murphy he won titles firstly in NXT, and then on the WWE main roster – most notably winning the Cruiserweight Championship in front of 60,000 at the MCG during WWE Super Showdown 2019.
After leaving WWE, he got a new name in Buddy Matthews, and wrestled Kazuchika Okada in New Japan Pro Wrestling, before emerging in AEW as a member of the House of Black, winning the AEW Trios Championship alongside Malakai Black and Brody King.
When it comes to success, he might be the most successful Australian wrestler on the world stage we’ve ever seen.
Meanwhile, Slex became the benchmark for Australian wrestling, regularly winning championships both within MCW and elsewhere, and possibly more than anyone showed just now talented Australian wrestlers could be, especially when he too took on Kazuchika Okada, this time in an MCW ring.
However, when Slex earned his chance to work overseas with a Ring of Honor contract in his hands, he only had a handful of matches before the Covid pandemic hit, and Slex was forced to stay in Australia while his potential remained unfulfilled. However, with a tour in Pro Wrestling NOAH under his belt in 2022, maybe now is the time for the rest of the world to understand just how good Slex really is.
Which brings us back to 2023 in MCW.
Having made his return to MCW with a surprise entry and eventual win at 2022’s Ballroom Brawl, Matthews followed it up by winning the MCW World Heavyweight Championship from Mitch Waterman at The House Always Wins in February.
A subsequent win over Slex’s tag team partner Tommy Knight at this year’s Ballroom Brawl sees Matthews continue to hold the biggest prize in Australian professional wrestling.
But he wasn’t the only one who had a successful time at this year’s Ballroom Brawl – Slex won the last remaining achievement he could earn in MCW with a win in the Ballroom Brawl match and put himself on a collision course against Matthews for his championship.
So now, at MCW Anniversary Day 1, it will be Matthews vs Slex – two legends of Australian wrestling, despite having very different stories to tell, meeting each other one on one for the first time in 12 years.
Will Matthews’ proven international experience and previous wins over Slex be the difference maker, or is this the opportunity Slex needs to show that his journey is just as valid as Buddy’s, by getting the win he’s been waiting for over a decade to earn?
MCW Anniversary is live from the Thornbury Theatre on Saturday 10th February and Sunday 11th February. Tickets for both days are available now from MCWTix.com.au
- Day 1 – Doors 6pm. Show 7pm.
- Day 2 – Doors 2pm Show 3pm.
This event is suitable for all ages.
